Becoming A Firefighter

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Becoming a Firefighter
Being a Firefighter is a very prestigious career that requires many years of training. “Firefighters are the people who protect lives and property from death or destruction by fire” and they must be able to respond immediately for any type of emergency (Bridges Internet). They are usually the first ones to the scene of an accident or other crisis and every firefighter has his or her own responsibilities that they must perform in order to successfully clear the area of any calamity that might have arisen. Although there is extensive training and fairly low salaries, becoming a firefighter is a well sought after career because of its job security and opportunity to serve the community.
The minimum requirements to be accepted as a firefighter are a high school diploma, being twenty-one years of age and being in good physical condition. These are just the minimum requirements and most cities will only accept a person with some post-secondary education because it shows the fire department that you can study and learn. Volunteer work and first aid training is also a must for anyone who would like to get involved with the fire department (Bridges Internet).
To be accepted into the fire department, a person must pass extensive written exams, tests of strength, physical stamina, coordination and agility along with a strict medical examination. The students who receive the highest marks in any of the tests have the best chances for acceptance. Once accepted, a “rookie” firefighter must train for several months at the departments training facilities. (Chao, Elaine 342) At the facilities and wearing turnout gear “students set up and climb ladders, hook up hoses, rescue dummy victims, cut holes in roofs, and use ventilating fans and other tools. Most fire departments have a building they can set on fire over and over again so students can practice fighting real fires.” (Ruth, Maria 13) Teamwork is...